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Tuesday, 1 July 2014

Every big event relies on the dedication and enthusiasm of volunteers, and this month’s Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club will be no different, with local people clubbing together to help make it a success.Among the volunteers is Rob Forman, from Laleston, who will be taking on marshalling duties. Forman is a seasoned golf volunteer, having helped out at numerous events held at Royal Porthcawl and The Celtic Manor Resort, as well as Southerndown, where he is a member.

He said: “The Senior Open is going to be a great advert for a top Welsh course, and Wales itself, on the world stage. I’ll enjoy seeing such a quality field of top golfers in action as they move through whichever hole I am marshalling on, and I’m particularly looking forward to seeing and maybe meeting Tom Watson, who is a world class gentleman as well as a world class golfer.”

Forman, who has been playing golf for 25 years, is also hoping that the positive effects of Royal Porthcawl hosting the event will also rub off on his own course just along the coast at Southerndown, which is one of three local courses hosting Monday qualifying.

He said: “I will be caddying when Southerndown will be hosting one of the qualifiers a few days before the big event itself, and I hope that with the area being in the spotlight it will help all local courses attract increasing numbers of visiting golfers from overseas.”

The Welsh Government has reached an agreement for three Senior Open Championships to be played in Wales between 2014 and 2024, and Bridgend County Borough Council is contributing £50,000 towards the hosting of the first event in Porthcawl, which is predicted to attract 34,000 spectators.

Councillor David Sage, Bridgend County Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “Volunteers are the heartbeat of events, as we saw with the ‘Games Makers’ at the London 2012 Olympics, so it’s great to see passionate golfers like Rob getting behind this event and sparing their time to help out.”

Councillor Sage added: “It was recently announced that The Open will soon be played on Northern Ireland’s shores for the first time since 1951 after Royal Portrush was added to the select group of courses on the Open Championship’s rota, and a successful Senior Open would certainly boost Royal Porthcawl’s hopes of joining them. We really hope that the Senior Open will be a big success and help to put Bridgend County Borough on the map for global golf fans.”

The Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex takes place at Royal Porthcawl from July 24 – 27 and will feature legends of the game including Tom Watson, Ian Woosnam, Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

There are still some vacancies for volunteering, with roles including course marshals and scorers. All volunteers need to be aged over 18. For further details, please email golfmarshaltso@outlook.com.

Tickets for The 2014 Senior Open Championship Presented by Rolex at Royal Porthcawl can be bought online via www.senioropengolf.com or by calling +44 (0)800 0232557, with details of hospitality packages also available.